Thomas County cat., 1887-11-17
to be verv self-satis6ed, but that isn't

.Oh, you want to be out performing
some great public work. ambitious te
be home missionary or something o1
the kind. am becoming enlightened
now," and the smile spread itself over
his face again.
Il had no thought of missioning al
home or anywhere else.' replied
Brownie, with some spirit; "but my
afternoons experience made me think
what difficult work missionaries had
to do, and l never could have faith and
patience to work a reform among peo-
pies prejudices. 1t does seem to me
that good, practical sense is one of the
great needs of the times. am not SO
strong as Mrs. Wilkins. yet You have
never seen me day after day exhausted
by over-work. l manage my work
while Mrs. wilkins work manages
her; that is the difference.
Il told her that when l had a large
ironing to do. did not try to iron all
in one day; and then such articles as
sheets, tea towels and the coarse un-
dergarments were only put smoothly
through the clothes wringer, when
washed, then thoroughly dried, folded
and put away for use. 1 think they
have fresh, sweet. clean smell. that
they lose by being dampened and
ironed. But Mrs. Wilkins looked
shocked at such proceedings and said
her conscience wouldn't rest easy if
she left so much as a rag without every
wrinkle ironed out of it, and then she
couldn't feel comfortable until her
work was all done up and out of the
way. l wanted to say that /. too.
would have troublesome conscience
if l daily injured my health by un-
necessary work. but she looked so tired
and careworn that l hadn't the heart
to be cross with her. and SO talked
CHEEKY nonsense until she was glad that
/ had come in, for it had livened hel
up a bit.
Il next went across to Mrs. Deans 5
and there found another tired, wOrn-
looking women, all tiurred and flushed
over the cook-stOve, baking cake and
mixing wonderful concoctions.
"Mrs Dean boasts of her good cook
ing, and has her table spread with
dainty, delicious dishes. rich and un-
wholesome. that tempt the daily eater
on to sure dyspepsia, and there is a
perpetual bowling in that family with
some ailment or other"
20, well, Brownie. the public has no
idea how you starve your family with
your ideas of plain living" put in Mr..
Smith.
"Yes." said Brownie, ''we are star
we'd into good. sound health by eating
plenty of plain, wholesome food. Our
table doesn't groan under loads of in
digestible pastries, nor are we groan-
ing around with dyspepsia OF other
disease"
Brownie" said her husband, "when
l look at you l am reminded of the
village schoolmaster in Oliver Gold
smiths Deserted Village;' - And
still the wonder grew that one small
head could carry all he knew'-and
ever since our wedding day there has
been no limit to my pride and wonder
when l think of being the possessor of
the wonderous small head of my wife.
Without heading this remark Brownie
continued: Il afterward went to Mrs.
Gray's, and she. as usual, was busy
sewing, and felt inclined to break out
in a general TRADE against the fashions,
for those little girls of hers must be
ruffled and tucked and flounced until
they look like SO many puffed poppin-
jays; she gives so much time and
thought to dress, her chief interest in
life is fashion. When she enters
Heaven her first inquiry. l think, will
be to know how the angels dress. l
don't believe she has read single
book through since she was married;
she finds no time for recreation that
every one needs; and what pleasure
there is in such life. don't know"
I'VE shouidn'tli live for pleasure alone,
Brownie" said Mr.. Smith.
'.And good there is in it none, I'm
sure. was the reply. "She was wor-
rying over the approaching house.
cleaning time. told her how l econo-
mized in that by not having the whole
house covered with carpets; that
liked best to have the upstairs bed
room floors either painted or oiled,
with rug or two in each room; it was
a saving of much heavy work and a
much better way to maintain cleanli-
ness. l liked to feel that the rooms
were always pure. clean and comfort-
able. Mrs. Gray merely replied
that she supposed l had my
way and she had hers. l don't
seem to have a knack of con-
vincing people of the better way; and
l can not always understand why they
will spend their time in useless labor,
like stepping on perpetual treadmill,
always going but never getting to any
real good that is to be enjoyed and
done in the world. So few persons,
1t seems to me, economiZe their time